The chief credited the department’s preparation to deal with the large crowds as the reason things did not get too out of hand.

“I literally went and spoke to the officers who were going to be on the skirmish lines and shared with them my expectation: Be professional. The world is watching.”

The protests were mainly peaceful until the rally ended about 8:30 p.m. Over the next two hours, police used tear gas, pepper spray and smoke bombs to disperse large crowds, primarily in the area along Third Street between Van Buren and Monroe streets.

Four people were arrested.

Williams said her officers conducted themselves in a calculated manner and did not charge into protester groups, instead allowing them a chance to obey orders.

“They gave people opportunities to comply,” she said, adding that nonuniformed officers had moved through the crowd telling people what they were and were not allowed to do.

Despite being pleased with her officers, Williams said she ordered a full review of the event.

“We can always learn of what worked really well and then we can always learn what we could have tweaked or done a little bit differently,” she said.